Driving and Ear Plugs
- Thread starter Jkph75
- Start date
MemberI don't use earplugs in cars. 60-65 dB isn't that high. Unless you feel uncomfortable by it (hyperacusis), what are you worried about? Worsening of your T?
My T keeps getting worse and I can't figure out why. Seems like people on here are using earplugs a lot and I don't. I'm wondering if that is part of my problem. I was in a restaurant the other night for 3 hours. My db meter said it was about 75db. I didn't use ear plugs, because I didn't think I needed to unless it was 85db. Afterwards, my tinnitus was louder but I felt fine while I was there.
i dont personally think that wearing earplugs wjile driving is necessary, ill be afraid not to listen to something while im driving!
have you been tested from lymes? just wondering.
have you been tested from lymes? just wondering.
I need earplugs and/or earmuffs when I drive.
I know I need them because of H (I tried without them and it's a painful experience).
If you don't think you need them, you probably don't...
I know I need them because of H (I tried without them and it's a painful experience).
If you don't think you need them, you probably don't...
Using earplugs whilst driving is totally unnecessary. That is unless your car is rocket propelled or something.
Have you had any tests to try and find an underlying cause for your tinnitus jkph? How did your tinnitus start; what do you believe is the cause?
Depending on the answers above it could any one of a number of things. Overuse of earplugs will not only irritate your ear canals, it may also further isolate you and sensitise your hearing.
If you haven't done so already I'd advise getting an MRI. Get some actual tests done and see if a cause can be found. If nothing can be found then I'd probably look towards your mental health. Depression and anxiety could be a significant factor in why it's getting worse.
Have you had any tests to try and find an underlying cause for your tinnitus jkph? How did your tinnitus start; what do you believe is the cause?
Depending on the answers above it could any one of a number of things. Overuse of earplugs will not only irritate your ear canals, it may also further isolate you and sensitise your hearing.
If you haven't done so already I'd advise getting an MRI. Get some actual tests done and see if a cause can be found. If nothing can be found then I'd probably look towards your mental health. Depression and anxiety could be a significant factor in why it's getting worse.
Using earplugs whilst driving is totally necessary. That is unless your car is legs propelled and insulated with double glazing or something.
Ridiculous, right ?
I mean, the two sentences are.
You think some TT members are too extreme in their opinion, but you're just like that. You can't accept that an universal truth just doesn't exist about hearing protection.
I've got no problem with people if they want to wear earplugs in their car, but I wouldn't personally advise it. I don't see the benefit of such behaviour. If you're in a drag car however, which is a different thing entirely, then yes I could see the benefit. The original poster, however, clearly states that we're talking about his car.
I sincerely believe there's no genuinely useful purpose for jkph75 to wear earplugs in his car. It further propels the negative association to sound; the isolation can potentially spike his T unnecessarily, and if it's repeated daily he could potentially get ear infections as well, unless he is careful. Ear muffs would also be a bad idea in my opinion because the other points still apply.
If 65db is now considered dangerous, then we might as well have permanent implants shoved in our heads.
Foncky, do you wear earplugs whilst holding a conversation?
I sincerely believe there's no genuinely useful purpose for jkph75 to wear earplugs in his car. It further propels the negative association to sound; the isolation can potentially spike his T unnecessarily, and if it's repeated daily he could potentially get ear infections as well, unless he is careful. Ear muffs would also be a bad idea in my opinion because the other points still apply.
If 65db is now considered dangerous, then we might as well have permanent implants shoved in our heads.
Foncky, do you wear earplugs whilst holding a conversation?
Do you really want me to go through the painful symptoms I'll have if I drive my (normal) car for more than 15 minutes on the highway without plugs ? Or are you going to tell me I only suffer from phonophobia when I'll tell you about the fullness and the stabbing pain that starts from my ears to go on throughout my skull ?
It's a shame you only consider sound as dangerous / not dangerous, loud / not loud. It's a bit more complicated when you have severe H and I think infrasound is a problem for me whilst driving (and earplugs don't do much against that, so yes, my protected ears will still suffer from a ride, but a lot less).
I refuse to wear plugs whilst holding a conversation but I can't have a conversation with more than 2 people at the same time. And I'm talking about people who know my condition and understand they have to speak softly.
That's what severe H is. My own voice is a problem. Believe it or not.
As for the OP, I suggested him not to wear plugs if he doesn't feel like he needs to. You often give great advices but it's still from your personal experience, so don't forget to mention that each time.
It's a shame you only consider sound as dangerous / not dangerous, loud / not loud. It's a bit more complicated when you have severe H and I think infrasound is a problem for me whilst driving (and earplugs don't do much against that, so yes, my protected ears will still suffer from a ride, but a lot less).
I refuse to wear plugs whilst holding a conversation but I can't have a conversation with more than 2 people at the same time. And I'm talking about people who know my condition and understand they have to speak softly.
That's what severe H is. My own voice is a problem. Believe it or not.
As for the OP, I suggested him not to wear plugs if he doesn't feel like he needs to. You often give great advices but it's still from your personal experience, so don't forget to mention that each time.
Even when I had mild T and almost no H, long car rides were painful and I had to plug for most of them. I almost never plugged otherwise. Not in the street, not during parties : almost never. Only if very loud music was played or if I had to use powertools for instance. And all that went for 12 years. So my life was pretty normal. I did not even register on TT or such boards. I just thought they were totally depressing and pointless !
So let me believe that overprotection is not the issue at all (in my case). The issue is huge synapses + hair cells damage.
So let me believe that overprotection is not the issue at all (in my case). The issue is huge synapses + hair cells damage.
Nop, no ENT ever suggested it to me.
Apart from confirming that my hearing is really bad over 2000Hz, what could I learn with it ? Is it not difficult to stand with hyperacusis ?
My audiogram was like that 9 months ago :
Right ear :
250Hz : - 15dB
500Hz : - 15dB
1000Hz : - 10dB
2000Hz : - 35dB
4000Hz : - 45dB
6000 Hz : - 65dB
8000Hz : - 50dB
Left ear :
250Hz : - 15dB
500Hz : - 15dB
1000Hz : - 10dB
2000Hz : - 30dB
4000Hz : - 35dB
6000Hz : - 55dB
8000Hz : - 40dB
Apart from confirming that my hearing is really bad over 2000Hz, what could I learn with it ? Is it not difficult to stand with hyperacusis ?
My audiogram was like that 9 months ago :
Right ear :
250Hz : - 15dB
500Hz : - 15dB
1000Hz : - 10dB
2000Hz : - 35dB
4000Hz : - 45dB
6000 Hz : - 65dB
8000Hz : - 50dB
Left ear :
250Hz : - 15dB
500Hz : - 15dB
1000Hz : - 10dB
2000Hz : - 30dB
4000Hz : - 35dB
6000Hz : - 55dB
8000Hz : - 40dB
It's probably the best way of looking for hidden hearing damage. I'll link to a previous post:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/219896/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/219896/
- May 11, 2016
- 1,184
- Tinnitus Since
- 2012
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud music/gigs probably
An ABR is probably pointless as you already show you have a hearing loss on your audiogram.
If you believe that you are benefiting from protecting your ears as you do, then continue. I can't say with any absolutes what the right course of action is, but the mainstream view is to avoid it.
- May 11, 2016
- 1,184
- Tinnitus Since
- 2012
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud music/gigs probably
Using earplugs whilst driving is totally necessary. That is unless your car is legs propelled and insulated with double glazing or something.
Ridiculous, right ?
You think some TT members are too extreme in their opinion, but you're just like that. You can't accept that an universal truth just doesn't exist about hearing protection.
Hi @Foncky and a Happy New Year to you.
I once had very severe hyperacusis where conversation could be quite painful. Thankfully, that is now cured and has remained this way for almost 20 years. I believe the discomfort that you and other members experience from hyperacusis is very real. Although you're not asking for it, you have my deepest sympathy and understanding, because I have been there and know how this condition can make a person feel, and the steps one is likely to take to get relief from the awful symptoms of sensitivity to sound which is no laughing matter.
I do not believe that it is necessary to use earplugs when driving a car, but that is not to say one shouldn't if they find relief when using them. It could make the auditory system more sensitive and might lead to phonophobia (a fear of sound). I just think treatment is the best way forward, and encourage you and others to try wearing white noise generators. I know you have said you couldn't wear these devices, but have you tried them? I suggest setting the volume very low at first. Then only wearing them for just 1 hour and then take them off for 1 hour. Slowly build up the wearing time over a few weeks until a total wearing time of 8 hrs is achieved.
Anyone that has habituated to their tinnitus but has problems with hyperacusis or "Reactive Tinnitus". I suggest wearing white noise generators. Over time they will help to desensitise the auditory system so it becomes less sensitive to sound. This isn't a quick treatment but it's one of the best for curing hyperacusis as in my case. When retiring to bed at night, I suggest not wearing WNGs but using a sound machine by the bedside for sound enrichment.
Michael
@Sam Bridge Fortunately, I hear quite ok. My "speech test" or whatever it is called is almost perfect in French, not so much in English, as different frequencies are used.
But I would be amazed to get back a "crisp" hearing. I'm used to it now, but everything is kind of muffled.
But I have to go step by step. This weekend I was hiking in the mountains, talking all the day long, surrounded by nature sounds, my own noises (shoes, etc), rescue helicopters not far away sometimes, etc, and all that without earplugs of course. Might sound ridiculous, but my ears were quite exhausted in the end. I was glad though.
But I would be amazed to get back a "crisp" hearing. I'm used to it now, but everything is kind of muffled.
I hope I'm doing things wrong, that would mean I can still improve and get rid of H, which transforms a life into nothing.
But I have to go step by step. This weekend I was hiking in the mountains, talking all the day long, surrounded by nature sounds, my own noises (shoes, etc), rescue helicopters not far away sometimes, etc, and all that without earplugs of course. Might sound ridiculous, but my ears were quite exhausted in the end. I was glad though.
Depending on the type of car that you have, driving it on the freeway can easily produce 75 dB inside and even 85 for the loudest car.
Check your car here: http://www.auto-decibel-db.com/index_kmh.html
Check your car here: http://www.auto-decibel-db.com/index_kmh.html
Sebastians
Member
- Jan 12, 2016
- 375
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2015
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Guitars, loud girls and guns
I use filtered earplugs when driving my car for longer journeys (anything over 30 mins). Highways in my country are loud (bad concrete, potholes and lots of road noise from tyres) and just sound uncomfortable after a while. Although i don't have 'pain hyperacusis', I am looking to buy a quieter car this year (60-65 db) so i can drive without plugs.
My car is rated at 72.5dB at 140kmh. But the volume alone is not relevant imho, you have to consider the frequencies, how the sound reverbs inside, how the road surface is, tires, etc.
I'm looking for a big old BMW 7 series known to be very quiet though, with no airbags
@Michael Leigh Thank you and happy new year too. I don't forget your advice about WNG. I'm not ready to try them for now. I still have a lot to try before (more sport, LLLT, etc).
I'm looking for a big old BMW 7 series known to be very quiet though, with no airbags
@Michael Leigh Thank you and happy new year too. I don't forget your advice about WNG. I'm not ready to try them for now. I still have a lot to try before (more sport, LLLT, etc).
I believe you. I was in the same boat before my stapedotomy. I would also hurt from being in a completely silent room and typing on a keyboard. Just slowly pushing in keys (chicklet keyboard on a MacBookPro) would be enough to trigger my H. Being unable to talk and to type was a new & painful form of censorship for me.
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- karma
60-65db sounds very low for a car; is that at highway speeds, and measured with a very accurate meter? I have a quietish car (Prius) and it's still ~72+ at full speed on the highway according to the tests I've seen.
I sometimes wear earplugs on long drives. I don't if I'm only going to be on the road for an hour or two, unless my ears seem stressed or are unusually bothersome.
I sometimes wear earplugs on long drives. I don't if I'm only going to be on the road for an hour or two, unless my ears seem stressed or are unusually bothersome.
- May 11, 2016
- 1,184
- Tinnitus Since
- 2012
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud music/gigs probably
My car is 65db at 70mph (BMW 320d m sport)
I know this because I used to measure a lot of stuff in the early days (cinemas, bars, bands, planes etc). I used a calibrated meter that I trust, and it also perfectly matched the stats for my car off the auto database.
I personally don't think it's necessary in the majority of cars. But, that's just my opinion. I'll just add that I'm not god or anything, so it really is just an opinion.
I know this because I used to measure a lot of stuff in the early days (cinemas, bars, bands, planes etc). I used a calibrated meter that I trust, and it also perfectly matched the stats for my car off the auto database.
I personally don't think it's necessary in the majority of cars. But, that's just my opinion. I'll just add that I'm not god or anything, so it really is just an opinion.
